The Role of Boredom, Loneliness, and Technology Use as Predictors of Sexual Responsibility among Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

<p>The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of sexual responsibilities (i.e., sex positivity and sexual health as well as sexual risk responsibility) for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The predictors examined included boredom, loneliness, online risk behavior, intent to use dating apps/websites for casual sex, and intent to use dating apps/websites for romance. Gender differences in sexual responsibility subscales were also explored. ANOVAS yielded women with autism exhibited more sexual responsibility on both subscales than men. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine significant predictors of Sex Positivity and Sexual Health as well as Sexual Risk Responsibility for the population of interest. Loneliness significantly predicted Sex Positivity and Sexual Health via an inverse relationship. Online Risk Behavior and Intent to Use Dating Apps for Casual Sex predicted Sexual Risk Responsibility via an inverse relationship. Finally, three significant moderation relationships were found. Boredom was found to moderate the relationship between Online Risk Behavior and Sexual Risk Responsibility as well as the relationship between Intent to Use Dating Apps/Websites for Romance and Sexual Risk Responsibility. Loneliness also moderated the relationship between Intent to Use Dating Apps/Websites for Romance and Sexual Risk Responsibility. Notably, emotions significantly moderated relationships between technology use variables and Sexual Risk Responsibility only at average and above average levels of emotions. Limitations, implications for counselors, and directions for future research are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling, Psychology, & Special Education

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Drozda, Natalie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. David Delmonico
• Dr. Bridget Green
• Dr. Matthew Joseph

• autism
• sexuality
• technology use
• online dating
• loneliness
• boredom
• sexual responsibility
• Counselor Education

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1910

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2919